MANSFIELD — Aurelio Diaz wants to continue to represent the 7,608 residents of Mansfield City Council’s 5th Ward as a political independent.
Joetta McCruter-Polk, in her first run for political office, seeks to return the ward to the Democratic Party side of the ledger.
With no Republican in the race on Nov. 4, one of the two will lead the ward that begins downtown and runs all the way to Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
Mansfield City Council members, who meet twice a month, will be paid $9,263 in 2026.
Here is a look at the two candidates.
Aurelio Diaz seeks second term
The 49-year-old Diaz, a North Walnut Street resident, was elected to the seat as a Democrat in 2021, beating incumbent Jason Lawrence.
Diaz won with 63 percent of the vote four years ago, though just 174 of 1,652 registered voters (10.5 percent) in the 5th Ward cast ballots, according to the Richland County Board of Elections.
Several months later, he decided to become independent,
“I think it’s good for me personally and I think there’s been a big shift in the city. People don’t always want to be identified as belonging to a particular party,” Diaz said at the time.
“I lean really right on some issues and really left on other issues. And I feel like I’m pretty open about that. I get some criticism from that, but I don’t really do it for a party and especially (in) the 5th Ward, we have more non-party residents,” Diaz said in announcing his decision in May 2022.
A 1995 graduate of Mansfield Senior High School, Diaz works as a case manager at OhioRISE, a specialized Medicaid managed care program serving children and youth who have complex behavioral health and multisystem needs. OhioRISE is a part of Coleman Health Services.
He also owns La LUNA at 32 N. Walnut St., described as “a glowing atmosphere for music, art, advocacy, & friendship” on its Facebook page.
“Although we’ve made significant progress revitalizing Ward 5 through strong collaboration with our community, I believe there is still important work to be done,” Diaz said.
“When I first campaigned in 2021, I promised to be accessible, hardworking and responsive to the to the voices and ideas of our residents. I have remained committed to that promise and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” he said.
He said feedback from residents has told him homelessness, youth violence and trash/blight are the top issues in the Fifth Ward.
“I have taken an active role in addressing these challenges through direct, frontline efforts,” he said, citing his efforts on the Homeless Response Task Force and the Richland County Homeless and Housing Coalition.
“I’m also a member of the Richland County Youth Substance Use Coalition, working to reduce youth violence by addressing root causes and promoting prevention,” Diaz said.
“Additionally, since the beginning of my term, I have coordinated monthly neighborhood cleanups to tackle blight and restore pride in our community,” he said.
Diaz said he has worked to “build strong, trusting relationships with residents.”
“What truly drives me though is my passion for hands-on leadership. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I thrive on being present, engaged and fully committed to tackling tough issues alongside the community I serve,” he said.
Diaz, who who lost in a 2019 bid for City Council president in his first run for office, said he believes Mansfield is “on an upward path of positive change thanks to the strength of collaborative and diverse leadership.”
“I take great pride in what I’ve been able to accomplish during my first term, knowing that meaningful change requires everyone to have a seat at the table and every perspective to be valued,” he said.
(Below is a video of an interview done with the two candidates at Richland Source on Oct. 15 by Richland Source Deputy Managing Editor Carl Hunnell.)
Joetta McCruter-Polk making first run for office
The 63-year-old McCruter-Polk, who lives on North Mulberry Street, graduated from Mansfield St. Peter’s High School in 1980 before earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations from The Ohio State University.
Now retired, McCruter-Polk spent most of her career in public relations, starting at Richland County Children Services as a foster-care recruiter. She later worked in Franklin County to recruit for adoptive homes and later served as the public information officer for the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.
“I am not running against anyone for the 5th Ward City Council seat, but I am running/working for the residents of our community on the north end of town,” she said.
“I believe the voices of our adult residents, business owners, schools, churches, children and youth should be heard and responded to,” McCruter-Polk said.
She said she has “always taken a great interest in the well-being of the City of Mansfield,” especially the community’s families, especially children and senior citizens.
“Many of our older citizens cannot get around in the summer or winter. There are various faith-based organizations who give out ‘free’ food. I make it a regular point to visit these pantries and to gather food items to give out to the elderly in my community,” McCruter-Polk said.
“I even provide transportation for those who need trips to the store,” she said, also pointing to her efforts to keep up with resources through the Area Agency on Aging to provide fans or air conditioners for seniors in need during the summer.
McCruter-Polk said she has served on boards for Youth for Christ, the YMCA of North Central Ohio and others. She has also represented the 5th Ward on the Mansfield City Charter Commission.
She recently helped lead an effort in convincing City Council to have a street near Providence Baptist Church renamed in honor of the late Pastor Verdell Larson.
“We can no longer afford to allow the north end of Mansfield to go downhill as if no one inhabits its dwellings. I desire to advocate in finding solutions for the issues,” she said.
“Listening to the residents of the 5th Ward is key. I believe neighbors should know one another and care. I believe we have to be more accountable concerning the expenditure of public funds.
“I believe in change, but we should return to the time where people took great pride in the neighborhoods in which they lived.”
(Coming Tuesday: Rev. El Akuchie and Crystal Davis Weese seek to represent the Third Ward on Mansfield City Council.)